Protesters from ACORN Cambridge interrupted a Cambridge City Council meeting voicing their opposition to the “disgusting practice” of using bailiffs to collect council tax debt.
A council meeting was interrupted by protesters calling for an end to bailiffs being used to collect council tax debt. Protesters from housing campaign group ACORN Cambridge interrupted a full council meeting being held by Cambridge City Council on Thursday, November 27.
Part way through the meeting the protesters stood up in the public gallery and criticised the practice of using bailiffs to collect council tax arrears. Cameron Holloway, leader of Cambridge City Council, said on Monday (December 1) the group had the right to make a peaceful protest.
The group was heard saying: “All across this city there are people afraid to leave their homes, afraid to leave their cars parked in the street, afraid of a knock at the door of a bailiff who has come to rifle through their possessions looking for valuables to be seized in order to compensate this council for tax arrears. It is a disgusting practice that must be abolished.
“These people, many of whom are eligible for benefits that they do not collect, deserve support and outreach from this council when instead what they get is a two-bit thug in a stab vest looking through their windows with a flashlight to see if there is anything [inaudible].”
The protesters said they had met previously with representatives of the city council about this issue, but claimed “nothing” had been done to improve the situation.
They said: “When will this practice be denounced and renounced and confined to the [inaudible/unclear] of history where it belongs with the rest of the medieval barbarism that we have so long ago abolished. Shame, shame.”
The meeting was paused after the protest. A recording of the incident showed the leader of the city council, Councillor Cameron Holloway (Labour) speaking with the group. The meeting later resumed and carried on with the scheduled agenda. Cllr Holloway said on Monday that he spoke with the group, inviting them to contact him about the topic, before they left.
Following the meeting ACORN Cambridge confirmed this was a protest organised by them and said it was part of the national Bailiff Free Britain campaign, which calls for changes to the “unjust” system on how council tax debt is collected.
These include a call to end the use of bailiffs to collect council tax debt, and for national changes such as a “fairer alternative to council tax” and for “fair treatment across all councils”.
Cllr Holloway said in a statement: “We are committed to supporting residents in financial need, including by providing food hubs, building council homes, our council tax reduction scheme, and offering financial and debt advice, both directly and through partners such as Citizens’ Advice.
“We only use enforcement agents (or bailiffs) as a last resort to collect outstanding council tax or business rates from people who we believe could pay but are choosing not to. The bailiffs working for the council are signed up to the Enforcement Conduct Board, who provide oversight of enforcement practices and work with enforcement agents to ensure that anyone experiencing enforcement action is treated fairly and protected from sharp practice.”
Cllr Holloway concluded: “Our main message for anyone finding it difficult to pay their Council Tax is to talk to us. Our officers will help you consider all options to improve your household finances, which may include specific Council Tax discounts but may also include other financial support that you are eligible for. If you are currently in any debt to the council, it is always best to talk to us so that we can work with you to resolve the situation.”
An opposition councillors at the meeting, Councillor Elliot Tong (Green Party), criticised the city council’s administration in light of the protest. He said: “Labour are unable to keep their own council under control, as angry protesters stormed [in] to voice their frustration at the way that the authority treats some of our city’s most vulnerable residents.
“They proclaim that looking after local people is their top priority, but their only interest is helping themselves, wasting taxpayer money renovating their own offices and boosting their own leader’s salary. They happily show off their large, gold-plated mace while many residents can barely afford their next meal.”
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